Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-09-24

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bear and a curse, where he
might, had he been soberly inclined,
have proved himself the greatest bless.
ing to those dependent on him, MAX
ing their lives very different from what
they were. His harshness it was that
! first caused reason to totter on her
| throne in the mind OF his infant bow,
and his the brutal hand that dealt
the blow upon the child's temple that
completed the disastrous result. Lit.
| tie William could not be expected,
under these conditions, to realize the
fine promise of his earlier years, but
became duller and duller, and more
unlike thu other children growing up
al ound him, till he at length develop
ed into the pitiful object that we now
behold him. Seel there he goes-poor
fool!
well have a regular spree to- day."
suggests boy named Joe Clark. "Old
| Mother Henneton's out charing three
miles off, and Silly Billy looks more
vicious than usual.
"AlI right. Joe," laughed Jim Boles;
'tell us, what you have in your mind
now2 Look sharp, for I've to be back
home in less than half an hour"
you'll see. Just you make for the
Spinney, that's all. He's an awfuliy
suspicious old thing. Nothing on
earth will drive him there. SO we must
contrive to get him to follow. All! you
guess my game? you"
Capital! First-rate. what q lark!
but it isn't really dangerous there, is
| it? not deep enough to"
"Bless you, no! not over two feet
and a bit. but there's mud at the bot
tom-mud. and-perhaps few horse:
leeches. But, 1 say, keep your own
counsel. Don't say word to the
other chaps, or they'll split, and spoil
all the fun"
but the old woman?"
Bother the old woman! she won't
be back tor hours, and it'll be easy
enough to make up tale. There,
you go on in front and make faces at
him. Do you understand"
No words had been necessary to en-
tighten the mind of Jim Boles as to
the scheme of mischief Matching in
that OF the elder boy, universally de-
tested as the greatest bully in all
Longley. The hint dropped in whisp-
ers as TO the Spinney, and nod and
wink, sufiiced, Kindred spirits are
quick of comprehension on some
points, and the understanding OF Joe's
willing pupil in mischief and cowardly
daring, ii the expression may be Ill
lowed, was peculiarly receptive OF his
teaching.
Jim had caught his cue, and, running
some way ahead OF the poor simple
ton, squatted down before him in the
position OF a frog, and commenced q
series OF the most horrible grimaces.
1t was not to be wondered at il this
gross and stupid insult reused Bill
Hanneton's ire. 1t exasperated him
beyond endurance, seeing which, the
smaller boys. needless OF the cruelty
of the coke" joined their forces to
the enemy, and followed their leader
even to the verge OF refrigeration, each
one trying to out-rival his fellow in
the grotesqueness OF h facial contor-
tions, and kept up the mark by Joe
CLARK, to whom the mental torture
OF his victim afforded exquisite de.
light.
Silly Billy's evaporation naturally
fast ripened into frantic desire
for revenge. He rushed towards
his tormentors, and, hourishing
in his right hand his weapon, the
stick, sent the whole tribe running
before him full tilt, little guessing that
in SO doing he himself was running
precisely into the very snare the enemy
had laid for him. Down a pleasant
green path, called Parker's lane, ran
the youngsters. pursued by Bill, who,
when he chose, could match any of
them for heetness OF foot. At the end
OF Parker's lane was the Spinney; a
delightful tangle OF wild rose-bushes
and briar, where flowers of various
hues all grew in such mixed luxuriance
that it was difficult to trace the mar
row path that coursed through it, es-
pecially as it had been but LITTLE fire..
quented OF late.
"Stand aside, you small fry" cries
Joe at the entrance to the Spinney-
i'all except you. Jim. Come along,
Billy-Silly Billy-have a shy at one
of us-which shall it bes'' And
by striking provoking atti-
tude, the poor idiot is en-.
ticed to follow up the pursuit. He is
almost blind with rage as he lodges
his prosecutors down the Macy path.
Suddenly they have disappeared.
Where can they be? Doubtless they
are hiding behind that bramble hedge.
There is widish opening through it,
and with a plunge onward he falls into
the trap; for in his haste he has not
noticed that stagnant brook that at
this point, SO well concealed by bush.
cs and thick covering OF green duck
weed. almost defies detection. There
is roar oflaushter from the ringlead-
ers OF the sport, and they jeer at their
unfortunate victim as he founders
helplessly in the evilsmelling water.
Theyhad in fact. got ahead in the chase,
and at the critical moment had lain
themselves down among the tangle to
conceal their persons. Their cruel
enterprise had succeeded. Now was
the climax of their sport. The poor
FOOLS fury was all washed away, and
gave place to an aeonizing wall oil
despair. The more he struggled NO
escape from his odious position, the
more hopelessly he sank INTO the